1 JOHN (Love one another and keep away from false teachers)
Date: Probably between AD 85 and AD 95 before being exiled to Patmos.
Author: The Apostle John
Location: Ephesus.
To whom: A pastoral letter to several Gentile congregations. It was written to all believers to all over the world.
Purpose: To counter false teaching.
Key People: John, Jesus.
Key words: The words: love (used 33-times), know (used 38-times), Life (used 15-times), Light (used 6-times), Fellowship (used 4-times).
A brief Time-line of John the Apostle
| SN | John the disciple’s time-line | Year (AD) (Approx) |
| 1 | John becomes disciple | 28-30 |
| 2 | Jesus’ death and resurrection | 33 |
| 3 | Emperor Nero’s reign (Nero commits suicide in AD 68) | 54-68 |
| 4 | Destruction of Jerusalem | 70 |
| 5 | Domitian’s reign.(Domitian was assassinated on 18th Sep. 96 AD) | 85-96 |
| 6 | John was sent to Patmos | 95 |
| 6 | Wrote Gospel according to John | 85-95 |
| 7 | John writes 1st, 2nd and 3rd letter | 85-95 |
| 8 | John writes Revelation while in exile in Patmos | 95-96 |
| 9 | Emperor Nerva’s reign | 96-98 |
| 10 | John was released from exile from Patmos by Nerva | 96 |
| 11 | The death of John in Ephesus. | 100 |
Background:
John was an older man and perhaps the only surviving Apostle at that time. He had not yet been banished to the island of Patmos, where he would live in exile for almost 2-years. As an eyewitness of Christ, he wrote authoritatively to give this new generation of believers assurance and confidence in God and in their faith.
John the author of the letter: (AD 85-100)
Key verses:
“ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1:8-10)
“For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (2:16-17)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”( 3:1-2)
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (4:4-5)
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”( 5:11-12).
Authorship:
John was one of the closest disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ who lived to an old age and perhaps died in Ephesus after the exile in Patmos. Other Biblical records say that he looked after Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Ephesus until she died. This letter is written from Ephesus before his exile to Patmos.
Jerusalem had been destroyed in AD 70, and Christians were scattered throughout the empire. By the time John wrote this letter, Christianity had been around for more than a generation, it had faced and survived severe persecution. The main problem confronting the church at that time was declining commitment. Many believers were conforming to the world’s standards, failing to stand up to Christ and compromising their faith. False teachers were plentiful and they were decelerating the Church’ growth. John wrote this letter to put believers back on track. John advising the Christians to be true Christians. John gives a 3-fold message to all believers. Light, Love and Life. We can put this as “Embrace Light, Express Love and Enjoy Life.”
Peter asked Jesus, “Lord what about him (John)?” Jesus answered, “if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you ? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumour spread among the brothers that his disciple would not die. (Jn.21:21-22a). That could be reason John did not die as a martyr, but lived a long life.